Faithful Families Resources February 28 2016

Appreciate every moment with your children.   Don't wish their childhood away.

One hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of car you drove, or what kind of house you lived in, or how many books you wrote, or what your clothes looked like.

But the world may be a little better because you were important in the life of a child.

Anon

Family Closeness

Game:

My Grandmothers Trunk.

Someone starts by completing this sentence with an object  that begins with the letter A, My grandmother keeps _____ in her trunk.” The next person completes the sentence repeating the A word and adding a word that starts with B. This continues around the circle, each person repeating what the others said and adding another with the next letter of the alphabet. (Youth Ministry Encyclopaedia. Lyman Coleman. JBCE)

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

• What is the best thing and the worst thing that happened to you this week? What is something that you need to ask God for this week?
• If you could be any character from a book or TV who would you be? Why? What character on TV do you think you are most like? In what ways? What TV character do you think your family members are most like? Who is someone you admire in real life? What is it about them you like?

Story

With your family read:  Luke 15.1-10

 Questions for Discussion:

• What does it feel like to be lost?
• Who might be some people who are lost in our community?
• What does the story say we should do when the lost are found?
• What does it mean to be found by God? 

Prayer and Celebration

We are now in the Season of Lent, the forty days preceding Easter Day. This is traditionally a time of repentance (saying sorry and turning from sin). The resources for prayer and celebration for the next six weeks will focus on ways your family might “celebrate” well this season. Lent is a good time to focus on God’s care and provision and on our dependence on him, but also on saying sorry.

As we journey with Jesus to Easter, let his teachings be in our heads 
and our thinking, our feet and our walking, our hands and our 
serving, our hearts and our loving:
Blessed are the poor in spirit
response: For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn:
response: For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek:
response: For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger 
and thirst for what is right:
response: For they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful:
response: For mercy shall be shown to them.
Blessed are the pure in heart:
response: For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers:
response: For they shall be called the children of God.

Jesus asks us to take up the cross and follow.  We pray that as we 
follow, we may become more:
      More loving
      More gentle
      More honest
      More generous
      More friendly
      More forgiving.
      More like what God made us to be.
Lord, as we follow, make us more like Jesus and so
Your kingdom come, your will be done
On earth as in heaven.  Amen

  

Service

One of the profoundest ways that we might share our love of Christ and our love of life with others is not through words but through our loving actions. Here are some suggestions for your family to share with those who live around you.

Invite another family who you are friendly with to church followed by a BBQ.

Bake something for your neighbours – maybe biscuits or a cake. (Do you know your neighbours? Where I live I have had six sets of neighbours on one side in the space of five years.)

When you see people moving in why not invite them over for some food or take a cake or biscuits over to them or some cold drinks.

If you know of an elderly or chronically ill person who is having difficulty with their garden why not get your family to adopt them. That is, regularly as a family go and mow the grass, weed, clean up and maybe plant some flowers.

Family Time

Lenten Placemats

Draw a variety of Lenten symbols on sheets of purple construction paper. These symbols could include a palm branch, a cross, a candle, a crown of thorns, a dove, a bowl, the number 40, loaf and cup, nails, a rooster, a bag of coins. In the middle of the placemat write a Lenten prayer. Cover them with a clear covering such as “contact”. As you eat meals together during Lent, look at each symbol and discuss its meaning. 

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(This material is based on and draws from earlier Faithful Families emails by Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning: An Unless Ideas Production.) Unless otherwise noted all material on this blog is copyright Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning

Faithful Families Resources February 21 2016

Children can withstand a lot of pressure and trial from the outside if the home inside is held steady by parents whose character is steady.

 ~ Stuart Briscoe

Family Closeness

Game:

Five House

One family member makes a list of five things to be found in your house. For example: something fluffy, something you can balance on your head, something that makes a sound, something hard, something blue, something used for cleaning. The rest of the family must then go and find five things that match the list. The first person back whose collection matches the list according to the list maker wins.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

• What is something you like about your family?
• What is something all families need?
• What is something you would like to do as a family?

Story

With your family read:  Luke 13.6-9

 Questions for Discussion:

• What do you think this parable is about?
• What could the tree that produces no fruit be?
• What does it mean to have a second chance?
• Do you think the tree will produce fruit?
• What would help the tree produce fruit?

Prayer and Celebration

We are now in the Season of Lent, the forty days preceding Easter Day. This is traditionally a time of repentance (saying sorry and turning from sin). The resources for prayer and celebration for the next six weeks will focus on ways your family might “celebrate” well this season. Lent is a good time to focus on God’s care and provision and on our dependence on him, but also on saying sorry.

Why do we have “seasons” of the church year? In a wonderful way they help us to tell more fully the story of faith, the story of Jesus. During Advent we are alerted to the coming of Christ, not only as a baby 2000 years ago, but also of his return. In Epiphany we become aware of the presence of God in our world and the mission of Christ to proclaim the redeeming kingdom of God. This season, Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, forty days before Easter focuses on repentance, turning from sin, turning from self worship, remembering that God is our creator. Lent also focuses on the covenant or promises God has made with his people through the ages and now.

Lenten Thanksgiving Bowl

This week place a bowl in the middle of your table. Place some blank strips of paper and a pen next to it. Each night spend some time writing things you would like to say thank you to God for. Place them in the bowl. Smaller children might like to draw pictures.

Prayers to use in Lent

Dear God,

thank you that your love

is deeper than the ocean

and bigger than the sky.

No matter what we do,

you still love us

and welcome us home.

Amen.

Dear God

Help us when we hurt.

Help us to know what to do.

Help us forgive.

Amen. 

Service

 Anglican Board of Mission – Australia

One mission organisation in Australia that does fantastic work is ABM-A. Their vision is:ABM wants to see people everywhere experience the wholeness of life God offers in Jesus Christ, and to this end support our Partners as they participate in God's mission.

Their website is worth checking out and in particular under their resources menu is a section called “watch” that has videos of some of the work they do. Some of these videos would be appropriate to show family members around the table.

http://www.abmission.org/

Family Time

The Cross Shaped Window

You may be familiar with the segment on Play School where children are invited to travel through the square, circle, arched or diamond window. On the other side are some children doing something interesting. Using cardboard and some coloured cellophane make a cross shaped window. Tell your children that when we look through the cross shaped window we might see the kind of world God would like us to live in.  Invite your children to draw some pictures to put behind the window. What might God’s kind of world look like? What would people be doing? How might they be treating one another? Find some pictures in magazines that show what the kingdom of God might be like. (Maybe pictures of people caring for one another, seeking peace, helping one another).

(This material is based on and draws from earlier Faithful Families emails by Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning: An Unless Ideas Production.) Unless otherwise noted all material on this blog is copyright Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning

Faithful Families Resources February 14 2016

Children desperately need to know - and to hear in ways they understand and remember - that they're loved and valued by mom and dad        

~  Paul Smally

Family Closeness

Game:

Red Light, Green Light

This is the table version of Red Light, Green Light. Place an object in the middle of the table where everyone can reach it. If you have a big table you might need to place something just within arm’s reach of each family member.  One family member stands up and says “green light”. All other family members must start slowly walking two fingers towards from the edge of the table to the object. One finger must be touching the table at all times. When the standing family members turns and says “red light” everyone must stop moving their hands. If anyone is seen moving they must go back to the edge of the table with their fingers. The goal is to touch the object before you are caught.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

• What is something you would find hard to go without for a month?
• What is something you wish you could give up for a month?
• What are three things that are unnecessary in your life?

Story

With your family read:  Luke 13.31-35

 Questions for Discussion:

• What do you think of Jesus response to the order to move on?
• How does this reading feel to you? Is it easy to understand or difficult?
• What does it means to “come in the name of the Lord”

  

Prayer and Celebration

We are now in the Season of Lent, the forty days preceding Easter Day. This is traditionally a time of repentance (saying sorry and turning from sin). The resources for prayer and celebration for the next six weeks will focus on ways your family might “celebrate” well this season. Lent is a good time to focus on God’s care and provision and on our dependence on him, but also on saying sorry.

Why do we have “seasons” of the church year? In a wonderful way they help us to tell more fully the story of faith, the story of Jesus. During Advent we are alerted to the coming of Christ, not only as a baby 2000 years ago, but also of his return. In Epiphany we become aware of the presence of God in our world and the mission of Christ to proclaim the redeeming kingdom of God. This season, Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, forty days before Easter focuses on repentance, turning from sin, turning from self worship, remembering that God is our creator. Lent also focuses on the covenant or promises God has made with his people through the ages and now.

Often in Lent people give up something they enjoy like chocolate or coffee or ice-cream or TV, this is a form of fasting to help us remember our ultimate dependence on God. Sometimes people take something up like the reading of scripture more intently or more regular visits to church.

As we journey with Jesus to Easter, let his teachings be in our heads and our thinking, our feet and our walking, our hands and our serving, our hearts and our loving:

Blessed are the poor in spirit

response: For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn:

response: For they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek:

            response: For they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger

and thirst for what is right:

            response: For they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful:

            response: For mercy shall be shown to them.

Blessed are the pure in heart:

            response: For they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers:

            response: For they shall be called the children of God.

Service

Have a look at the video on the LifeVestInside.com website. Show it to your children and ask them what it means to them? Discuss ways you might show kindness to the people around you each day during Lent.

Family Time

Rainbow Wall

This Lent begins with the story of the flood. The rainbow is an enduring symbol of God’s promise. Why not make the rainbow your symol for Lent, remembering the promise of God. Create a rainbow on a wall at home adding a new colour each week.

Week 1:Purple remember God forgiveness

Week 2:Blue remember God healing love

Week 3: Green remember Gods creation

Week 4:Yellow remember Gods promises

Week 5:Orange remember Gods presence in time of temptation.

Week 6:Red remember God son Jesus, died on cross rose again

(This material is based on and draws from earlier Faithful Families emails by Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning: An Unless Ideas Production.) Unless otherwise noted all material on this blog is copyright Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning

Faithful Families Resources February 7 2016

Some people are born into wonderful families. Others have to find or create them. Being a member of a family is a priceless membership that we pay nothing for but love.        

 ~ Jim Stovall

Family Closeness

Game:

Toilet Paper Facts

Pass a toilet roll around your family and invite them to break off as many pieces as they like. Once everyone has done this, each person counts the number of squares that they have and then must tell the rest of the family that number of things about themselves. For example, if someone has three squares, they share three things about themselves. It might be something they like or something about school or work. They should be things that the rest of the family may not know.

Sharing:

Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.

• What is something you like about yourself?
• What is something you are good at?
• What is something you wish you could do? 

Story

With your family read:  Luke 4.1-13

 Questions for Discussion:

• What do you think it would be like not eating for forty days?
• How do you think Jesus would have felt at the end?
• What did the Devil tempt Jesus with?
• How did Jesus respond to the Devil’s temptations? 

Prayer and Celebration

Wednesday 10^th February is Ash Wednesday, the day marking the beginning of Lent, the forty days preceding Easter Day. This is traditionally a time of repentance (saying sorry and turning from sin). The resources for prayer and celebration for the next six weeks will focus on ways your family might “celebrate” well this season. Lent is a good time to focus on God’s care and provision and on our dependence on him, but also on saying sorry.

Why do we have “seasons” of the church year? In a wonderful way they help us to tell more fully the story of faith, the story of Jesus. During Advent we are alerted to the coming of Christ, not only as a baby 2000 years ago, but also of his return. In Epiphany we become aware of the presence of God in our world and the mission of Christ to proclaim the redeeming kingdom of God. This season, Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, forty days before Easter focuses on repentance, turning from sin, turning from self worship, remembering that God is our creator. Lent also focuses on the covenant or promises God has made with his people through the ages and now.

Often in Lent people give up something they enjoy like chocolate or coffee or ice-cream or TV, this is a form of fasting to help us remember our ultimate dependence on God. Sometimes people take something up like the reading of scripture more intently or more regular visits to church.

Lent is a season of remembering to say sorry to God for missing the mark. While Lent is a time of repentance and penitence it does not have to be a morbid time as we also look forward to the Resurrection of Jesus at Easter. Why not use some symbols to help your family get a feel for the Season of Lent. Some of the following things could be used during your family prayer time or mealtime ritual to mark the season.

Smell:  Rosemary.

Taste:  Salt.

Colour: Purple.

Feel: Hessian

Sound: “I’m sorry”

This is a possible prayer to use during this season at the meal table or other times.

God calls us to say sorry for wrong doing.

God calls us to remember that he made us.

God calls us to remember his promises.

God calls us to live a new way,

not by might,

not by power,

but by faith… 

Service

This Lent why not give something up and donate the money you save to charity.

Family Time

 Promise Banner

Each week of Lent create a panel each with a different picture for a wall hanging. This could be done simply on pieces of A4 paper with coloured images or more spectacularly using 50cm square calico, connect each panel together with string so they hang. Each panel will reflect a different story from the Lenten season.

Week 1: Genesis 9.18-17: Picture: Rainbow

Week 2. Genesis 17.1-7,15-16 Picture: Footprints

Week 3. Exodus 20.1-17 Picture: Stone Tablets

Week 4. Numbers 21.4-9 Picture:Snake on a Stick

Week 5. Jeremiah 31.31-34 Picture: Heart

Week 6. Mark 11:7-10. Picture: Palms.

(Seasons of the Spirit 2002)

(This material is based on and draws from earlier Faithful Families emails by Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning: An Unless Ideas Production.) Unless otherwise noted all material on this blog is copyright Stephen Harrison and Richard Browning